Last Updated 99/07/13 1200PDT
Subject: Re: Ektachrome EM-25 & EM-26
From: [email protected] (Super8mm)
Date: 1999/07/10
Newsgroups: alt.movies.cinematography.super8
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MARTIN W. BAUMGARTEN
Plattsburgh, New York 12901-1827 U.S.A.
Tel: (518) 561-6312
E-Mail: [email protected]
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>I've a question for the group: In my hunt for movie film, I came across
>a roll on Ebay that expired in '80 but supposedly has been frozen ever
>since (and had a prepaied mailer), and for 2 bucks I couldn't pass it
>up. It says "Process EM-25" on it...
--Nat
---> Still smells fresh eh?! :o) Don't try sending the film to
mailer address....processing there has dried up and shut down years
ago! Also....Kodak will ONLY process Kodak film and it has to be either
of their current setups...K-14 for Kodachrome, and EM-26 for the
discontinued Ektachrome films (1982-1997). Remember...Kodak does not
process VNF films....and EM-26 will eventually cease as it's taking
them longer and longer to process these films (takes plenty to make up
a film run to justify setting the processor up for it).
---> Process EM-25 was the final process for non-prehardened movie
films, and an interim process, just before EM-26 came out. It was only
made for a short time period, and it more similar to the E-6 process
colorwise, but the film still had to be run thru Pre-Hardner and then
Neutralizer and a rinse, prior to being in development. I still offer
processing for this old discontinued process for $18.95 per cartridge
and that includes return shipping within the USA. The only other lab
that may still process this filmtype is Rocky Mountain Film Lab, in
Colorado (http://www.rockymountainfilm.com/), but you'll have to wait
anywhere from 6 months to nearly 2 years depending on how busy they are,
and IF they get enough of a given filmtype in to justify running
their filmprocessor for that film type. Their charge is $25 plus
shipping additional. Check their website for details.
---> If the film has been kept frozen, it most likely is still useable.
I have used many films from the 70's that had been kept frozen by me
and they are fine. There is some loss of filmspeed and maximum density
(black areas), but it still looks very good. Film that is only kept
refridgerated will still often be quite useable...as long as it was
sealed well to protect it from the high humidty in many refridgerators.
Such films will often have some significant speed loss, some color
shifting, and some loss of maximum density. Usually it is quite
tolerable though...depending on various factors. Films that have been
kept at shelf storage at average home temperatures for that
long.....you takes your chances on those! Sometimes they still work,
usually with loss of contrast, serious color shifting, filmspeed loss,
and poor maximum density (muddy blacks and shadows...most often in the
color of the biased direction of the aging shift).
I hope this helps!
Best wishes, Martin W. Baumgarten
Subject: Re: FS: Kodak Ektachrome super-8 sound movie film
From: [email protected] (Super8mm)
Date: 1999/07/08
July 8, 1999
You posted:
>Super 8 Ektachrome sound film is going to be way out of date. Assume
>it's going to have colour shifts, assume it's going to lose
>sensitivity, assume it will be difficult to find someone to process it.
>Jeez... I'll give you one yankee dollar for that if you pay the
>postage. There ain't no such thing as antique film.
---> Actually the final batch of Ektachrome Sound film from Kodak, ELA
594 had an expiration date of 10/97 on it. All Kodak Ektachrome films
that are/were Process EM-26 had a final expiration date in 1997. This
includes both ELA 594 sound film, and the EG 464 silent film. The
previous ELA 464 ASA 160 Type A silent film was discountined about a
year previous.
---> The film if kept at average room temperatures should hold
respectable color and filmspeed anywhere from 1 to 5 years out of date.
If kept stored in a refridgerated condition, the film should hold fine
for 5 to 10 years, with minimal image degradation. And if kept frozen
at near 0�F it should hold well for 20 years or more (if anyone wants
to store it that long!) with such minimal shifting in filmspeed and
color, that most wouldn't notice the difference between film stored
this way and fresh stock. Film stored this way should ideally be kept
in a ziplock airtight bag with as much air evacuated as possible and a
packet of silca gel if possible.
---> Processing at the moment isn't a problem. Kodak still processes
EM-26 type films in Switzerland, and it takes longer now to get them
back due their having to wait for a supply to justify running the
machine. Film processing will continue to be available until levels
drop low enough make it not worth running the processing machine at
Kodak. I also offer EM-26 cine film processing, as well as some other
labs. Best wishes,
Martin W. Baumgarten